GULET CRUISING IN TURKEY

You are off to Turkey to experience the magic of the turquoise blue coast - The Blue Cruise. So what's the weather going to be like? What should you pack to wear? How big is the gulet and what is the accommodation like? Where will you be going? What's the food like? Do you need a visa or jabs? What about currency? How much will you need?

The Turquoise Coast of Turkey

The sea is indeed Turquoise. The water off the southern coast of Turkey is clear and warm in summer. The coast line is mountainous. Away from the resort towns there is little development and numerous islands, coves and inlets. This is a perfect place for cruising and sailing onboard a luxury gulet like Odysseus.

Along the coast, often only accessible from the sea, are many outstanding ancient Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine archaeological remains - theatres, tombs, temples, marketplaces and bath houses.

The Weather in Turkey

Average temperatures for the Southern Coastal area:

Month	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Temp	17°C	23°C	28°C	34°C	33°C	28°C	22°C
Water	17°C	19°C	21°C	26°C	26°C	25°C	22°C
Sun	6 Hrs	9 Hrs	10 Hrs	11 Hrs	11 Hrs	10 Hrs	7 Hrs

The weather in Turkey in the summer is very hot. Maximum temperatures in July and August can reach as high as 45°C. Bring a hat and sun glasses and remember to drink lots of water. There will be plenty of bottled water on the boat. The Eastern Mediterranean is generally calm but the wind can come up in the afternoon. So, if you are prone to seasickness, bring Dramamine or another over-the-counter medication. Naturally the Captain will avoid motoring in rough seas where possible.

Your Gulet Cruise Itinerary

'Odysseus Cruising' will prepare a customised itinerary for your gulet charter incorporating the places and activities you want to experience. There are many things to do and see along the Turquoise Coast. Talk to us about your preferences and we will suggest something just for you.

Our Luxury Gulet MS Odysseus

'Odysseus' is a Turkish-built luxury gulet, British flagged and managed. She is a twin-mast motor sailer. The hull is built from wood to an ancient Byzantine design which has over 1,000 years design testing behind it. The saloon and cabins have been completely modernised with the latest equipment and fittings to a high standard of comfort and safety. 'Odysseus' has that feel of luxury - dark mahogany, varnish, brass and Turkish rugs are used throughout.

She is equipped with a modern Volvo Penta marine diesel engine giving a cruising speed of 9 knots. Her sails comprise a jib, staysail, main and mizzen achieving up to 7 knots in a strong wind.

Sheets, bath towels, beach towels, dressing gowns, slippers and hair dryers are provided. We also have a small selection of games including backgammon - the Turkish national game. You may wish to bring books, your favourite games, tapes and CDs and don't forget the sunscreen.

Our Gulet's Equipment

• Electricity supply is 24 Volt DC and 220 Volt AC when the engine is running. Generally electricity is available at all times other than in the middle of the night. The gulet has Continental European power sockets - two round prongs. You may need to bring adapters and/or transformers for 110 Volt equipment.
• 3.5 metre (10 foot) dinghy with a 15 HP outboard.
• 2 sea kayaks - a single and a double. Very stable.
• 4 sets of snorkel masks and flippers. 2 fishing rods.
• VHF Radio. However, please note that there is no telephone. Mobiles will work in port but do not always work when offshore. This is a blessing. Enjoy the peace!
• No TV!

Mediterranean Cuisine

Mediterranean cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world. Turkish cuisine is light and varied using the wealth of fresh produce available at market. Fruits and vegetables, and therefore dishes, will vary according to the seasons.

The Masterchef on 'Odysseus' is an excellent cook. He will prepare all your meals on board. There will be lots of fresh vegetables, salads and fruits, fish and meat. For breakfast he will prepare local cheeses, salami, olives, eggs, fruits, butter, jam, local honey, yogurt, cucumbers and tomatoes, freshly squeezed fruit juice, tea and coffee. For lunch he will prepare a light dish with salads and fruit. For dinner he'll surprise you. If you have chosen the gourmet option will prepare four different starter dishes every night; a main course of say lamb or fish with salad or locally grown vegetables followed by fresh fruits or dessert. Fish and other seafood is sometimes caught by the crew or the guests themselves or bought from local fishermen who come alongside when they have a catch to sell.

Thanks to the wide availability of fresh produce and supplies at many of our ports of call our chef can satisfy most dietary needs. These should preferably be emailed to us at least seven days prior to your departure with specific restrictions.

Drinks On Board The Gulet

Bottled water, tea and coffee are provided. All other drinks will be purchased for you in advance by our local Operations Manager. You will complete an order form stating what you want (wine, beer, soft drinks) and he will buy it at a supermarket at best price. You will pay for your order on arrival. More supplies can be purchased en route. We do not add a mark-up. Drink what you want at supermarket prices - now that's a good deal!

If you want a particular foreign brand of spirits or fine wines we suggest you buy them at your departure airport. Bottled water is available at all times from the crew. Ice for drinks is made on board using only bottled mineral water.

Clothing

The weather will range from warm to very hot depending on the month so light loose fitting clothes are suggested. Bring white T shirts, shorts, light weight trousers and several sets of swimwear. You will not need many changes of clothing so don't pack too much! Do bring a sweater and a windbreaker as the evenings can be cool and it may be breezy when we are under way. Bring a wide brim hat, lots of sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses. Bring your favourite toothpaste and shampoo since you probably won't find it where we are going.

Please bring soft skinned luggage. Space is limited on board a gulet and large rigid plastic cases are difficult to store.

While onboard we do not wear shoes. If you have sensitive feet please bring socks or wear the soft slippers provided when on deck.

Good walking shoes or trainers will be needed when you are walking ashore. The coast line is rocky, often steep and can be sharp underfoot. This is particularly the case at the archaeological sites.

Seasickness

If you suffer from sickness when travelling by car or plane you will find that the rolling motion of the gulet will probably affect you in the same way. You can reduce the feelings of seasickness and sometimes eliminate them all together by wearing wrist bands with pressure points. These are available from most pharmacies.

Travel Documents

You need only your passport. Please let us have your passport details in advance so that the Captain can expedite the preparation of the boat's passenger transit log with the local authorities. You will need a visa to enter Turkey. You will purchase this visa at the airport on your arrival at the airport of entry to Turkey. You will need cash for this. The cost of the visa varies according to your nationality (UK passport holders £10 in GBP; Most other European countries €20; US passport holders $20 in USD).

Currency

There is no facility to change money into Turkish Lira on board. On shore you can use credit cards for major purchases. You will find ATM machines in the main ports where you can withdraw Turkish Lira and Euros. You will be able to use Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars in many tourist locations, though having local currency will be best in small villages. There is no need to get Turkish Lira before you leave your home country.

Inoculations

None are required to travel in Turkey, but having up to date Typhoid, Hepatitis A/B and Polio inoculations is always a good idea.

Gratuities

It is normal practice in Turkey to tip a gulet's crew at the end of the charter if you are pleased with the service they have given. Tips are usually in the range of 5-10% of the cost of your trip. One way to calculate would be to set an amount per day for each crew member from each guest. So, for example, if you decided on say £3 per day for each crew member; on a 7 day cruise with a crew of 4 the tip would be £84 from each guest (£3 x 4 crew x 7 days).

Gulet Health & Safety

Your health and safety is the first priority of the Captain and the crew. Please note that you may be required to participate in a fire drill at the start of your charter during which you will learn what to do in the event of an emergency. 'Odysseus' is equipped with life jackets, lift rafts and fire extinguishers.

We carry a limited number of life jackets for children (2 x 15-30 Kgs and 2 x 30-50 Kgs). We cannot guarantee that we have the right size or indeed enough for your children. We recommend that you bring life jackets for your children if the standard inflatable life jacket is going to be too large for them.

Please let us know if you have any health problems that may require treatment whilst on the cruise. We will be traveling away from port and therefore away from the emergency services, pharmacies and hospitals.

Please remember that it is a condition of your reservation that you have personal travel and medical insurance cover.

Contacts In Case Of emergency

Please provide the following information to your family or friends that might need to contact the gulet in an emergency.

The Operations Manager of 'Odysseus Cruising' in Bodrum, Turkey is Hasan Bayram who can be reached at: Mobile phone: +90 (0) 532 272 8068

Hasan is not on board the gulet. He will contact 'Odysseus' by mobile phone and/or VHF radio. Please note that 'Odysseus' will be cruising in areas where mobile phone reception is patchy and sometimes non existent.

john@odysseuscruising.com (London, UK based)
dargan@odysseuscruising.com (London, UK based)
starr@odysseuscruising.com (New York, USA based)
hasan@odysseuscruising.com (Bodrum, Turkey based)